Two November Events Aim to Build US and Global Peace Movement

Photo credit: http://www.nationofchange.org

By Nancy Price
Earth Democracy Co-Chair

National and global peace movements are coming together to build a broad-based grassroots intersectional movement at two important November events. The November 10 Peace Congress: End Wars at Home and Abroad will be held in Washington, D.C., and then the November 16-18 First International Conference Against US/NATO Military Bases will take place in Dublin, Ireland.   

Peace Congress: End Wars at Home and Abroad
This November 10 event is being held at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 4th Street, SE, Washington, DC, Fellowship Hall. Please register online and consult the program for updates here.

The schedule is: 9:00 am Registration; 9:30 am Opening Plenary with speakers on the challenges and opportunities for building this movement; 11:00 am General Assembly on organizing opportunities and selection of several for greater discussion; 12:30 pm Box Lunch provided with regional gatherings for networking; 1:30 pm General Assembly on areas of collaboration and next steps; and 5:00 pm Peace Congress adjourns. On Sunday, November 11, you can join the March to Reclaim Armistice Day.

This Congress is an all-volunteer effort. Donations are welcome to support renting the facility, providing breakfast and box lunches, and help with travel expense for speakers. Just click the Donate button on the homepage.

Please join me in attending this important first Peace Congress. I will be there and look forward to meeting up with many WILPF sisters from the East Coast.

NOTE: Events begin Friday, Nov. 9 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 11:
Catharsis on the Mall; A Vigil for Healing: All weekend long, Catharsis on the Mall will take place on the National Mall near the Washington Monument (15th St. and Constitution Ave., NW). It will have art installations, live music and booths.

Veterans Occupy Washington: Veterans will be holding a space at McPherson Square, 15th St. and I St., NW, from Friday night to Sunday night and at the Veteran’s Administration, 810 Vermont Ave. (close to McPherson Square). They will have a stage and sound system for music and open mic starting at 4:00 pm Saturday. They will also hold a BBQ for homeless veterans outside the Veteran’s Administration Building on Sunday night. Stop by whenever you can and stay as long as you like.

Sunday, November 11: March to Reclaim Armistice Day
9:00 am – Gather: location to be announced. More information here.
9:30 am – March begins. March route will include the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Women’s Memorial, World War II Memorial, and it will arrive at the World War I Memorial at 11 am. All are welcomed; you do not have to be a veteran to attend and you are encouraged to walk behind the vets. Respectfully, please remember, this is a solemn march, while you do not have to remain silent; it is requested to hold the noise level down. Signage, banners, and flags are encouraged. To honor all victims of wars, civilians, and resistors, white poppy wreaths will be left at each site. Taps will be blown by fellow veteran and sapper, Watermelon Slim. Also, check out whether there will be a Reclaim Armistice Day event in your home town or nearby—a great time to rally together holding high the WILPF US banner!

The First International Conference Against US/NATO Military Bases
I realize that this November 16-18 conference in Dublin is more of a commitment to attend. I also will be attending this conference to represent WILPF US. Please sign the Unity Statement and read about the Founding and Sponsoring Organizations (WILPF US is a founding organization), the program schedule, bios of international speakers, lodging information, and more here.

As this new national and international peace movement comes together, WILPF US and International WILPF can contribute through education, analysis, and mobilization. As is written on the No US/NATO Bases website:

“The increasingly aggressive and expansionist actions of US/NATO forces in violation of international law and the sovereign rights of all nations, the raging wars in the Middle East, the expansive militarization of the African continent via AFRICOM, the burgeoning arms race devastating the national treasuries, the bellicose language replacing diplomatic negotiations, the economic crises facing country after country, and the destruction of the global environment through war and unfettered exploitation, and their impact on public health, have all created crises that, unless checked by popular opposition, can lead to unimaginable catastrophe and war.

None of us can stop this madness alone from within our national borders. The global peace forces must come together, mobilizing the millions in our countries, and around the world, for peace. We cannot, and should not, allow our possible differences on other issues to separate us. WE MUST UNITE FOR PEACE!”